Like many of you, I have been very dissatisfied with the way our Legislature is operating (or, more accurately, not operating), and, like many of you, I think it is time for some major changes.
I recently received a mailing from the office of Assemblyman Jim Bacalles asking his constituents to support a “People’s Convention to Reform New York”. The goals of such a convention would be to consider, among other things, real property tax relief, spending cap, debt reform, and term limits for legislators.
So far, I am in complete agreement with this idea. However, he is proposing that each of New York’s 62 counties be represented by three delegates, and here is where the disagreement arises. New York City, consisting of the Bronx, Kings, Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island would be represented by 15 delegates – the same numbers that would represent Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany, Steuben and Yates Counties. That counties in western New York, with a population of 361, 366 (1.9% of the state’s population) would have the same representation as New York City, with a population of 8,214,426 (42.5% of the ’s population).
I know that as much as many of us dislike the treatment accorded to New York City, it is undeniable that the 42.5% of the population in New York City should be represented by more delegates than the 1.8% of the population representing the 5 counties listed from Western New York. Let’s move toward a more equitable distribution of representatives to ensure that everyone’s interests are met.
Barbara Crumb
Branchport
Branchport, NY —
